Trick bass viol.



UNITED STATES Patented September 29, 1903.

PATENT p OFFICE.v

TRloK BASS viol..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 739,827, dated September 29, 1903. Application lecl March 13, 190B' Serial No. 141,692. (No model.)

l tain new and useful Improvements in Trick Bass Viols, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention consists of a trick bass viol for dramatic or amusement purposes, the object of my invention being to provide an iustrument of this characterwhich'can be used for perfor ming a variety of entertaining tricks or acts, especially in conjunction with dogs or other trained animals.

My invention therefore resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts for the above ends hereinafter fully specified, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the instrument with the doors closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the doors open. of the same; Fig. 4 is a bottom end view of the same. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of a detail.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the body of the bass viol, which is indistinguishable, except by a close inspection, from ordinary bass viols. The body is divided into compartments by partitions. One of these partitions 2 extends centrally down the whole length of the viol, and from about two-thirds of the way down there extends laterally a partition 3 on one sideV to the outside of the viol, forming in the right upper corner thereof a compartment 4, in which may be contained edibles or other articles used in the performance. In the compartment 5 in theupper corner on the left are secured two racks 6, which support bottles, shown at 7, the mouths of which bottles extend downward into the upper portion of a tank 8, open at the top and supported by a door 9, hinged, as shown at 10, on the central partition 2 and dropping down when it is desired to remove the tank to clean the same. In the lower portion 'of the side wall 11 of said tank is an aperture 12, which registers with an aperture 13 in the outside wall of the viol, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section before filling the tank from the bottles afaneet i4, having a rubber bushingl, is pushed through both of said apertures, so as to ex- .tend into the tank and enable the liquid to be drawn therefrom. rIhe doors 16, which permit access to the compartments 4 5, are held by spring-catches 17, opened by pressbuttons 1S from' the outside, which press-buttous are llush with the surface of the instrument and being made of the same color as said instrument are invisible except upon close inspection. p

The compartment 19 onthe right-band-bot tom corner is suitable for containing a live domestic animal, such as a dog, and the compartment 20 on the opposite side 'being smaller in size may contain a smaller animal. Doors 2l open outward and upward at the sides and permit of the dogs entering and leaving said compartments.

The nature of the invention will best be understood by describing the mode of its use.

VIt is intended to be used in connection with a single-act comedy or farcein whichthe comedian brings the double bass violupon the stage with the dogs in their compartments and with'the various refreshments or other articles also in place. The instrument is drawn onto the stage one small truck, and when in such position the doors 2l of the dog-compartments are opened and the dogs are allowed to escape therefrom, whereupon they proceed to perform the tricks, musical or otherwise, to which they have been trained. In the course of the performance the come dianwill insert the faucet through the two apertures, will open the door leading to the liquid-compartment, will open the bottles of lbeer or others placed therein with their necks downward, and will draw the beer from the tank through the faucet. He will also reach into the other compartment andywill draw solid refreshments or other articles therefrom that may be necessary for the performance of the comedy.

I claim- A bass viol having in the lower portiousof its body compartments and doors for said compartments opening outward from the sides of the instrument, having also compartments in the upper portions of the bass viol,

one ofsaid compartments being provided with for drawing the liquid from said tank, sub- 1o a rack for an inverted bottle, a tank contained stantially as described.y

in the instrument open at the top and ar- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my ranged to receive the liquid discharged from hand in the presence of two subscribing wita bottle in the rack, a door swinging doWnnesses.

Ward and, when closed, supporting said tank G. H. BUTZBACH. in position, the tank and the Wall of the in-V Witnesses: strument having-registering apertures, and a FRANCIS M. WRIGHT,

faucet passed through both of said apertures BESSIE GORFINKEL. 

